Send us a Text Message. In this episode, we talk with Catherine Kirkland, an engineer at Orenco, to learn about her experiences in the wastewater industry. Catherine shares her background and education, as well as her role as a regional sales engineer. She tells us about her interest in the industry and her favorite part of the job, which is the so…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Angela and Shawn discuss the importance of recognizing World Water Day and the ongoing need for water conservation efforts. They highlight the repetitiveness of water conservation discussions and the necessity of having dedicated days to raise awareness. The theme of this year's World Water Day is 'Water for…

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, we discuss vacation homes and short-term rentals with Cory Lyon, and Aaron Yates. Cory and Aaron define vacation homes and highlight the trend of people frequently renting out their properties. The conversation explores the variations in vacation homes by region, including examples from California, the Midwe…

Send us a Text Message. Mike Saunders joins us for another engaging discussion. This time, the conversation explores the concept of aging infrastructure in the wastewater industry. It discusses the two main aspects of aging infrastructure: deteriorating functionality and becoming obsolete. The timeline for infrastructure to be considered aging vari…

Send us a Text Message. In his book "Start With Why", author Simon Sinek talks about inspiration, and discovering your drive and passion for doing what inspires you. In a departure from our normal format, Angela and I take some time to talk about our own personal "why". We talk about what drives us and inspires us to be a part of this industry and …

Send us a Text Message. Looking for information regarding our industry can seem overwhelming. There are a lot of places out there that will provide you with information. Some of it is good, and some...not so good. Sometimes, finding reputable sources can be a challenge. To help you out, we have put together a brief list of websites, textbooks, trad…

Send us a Text Message. In the wastewater industry, being an equipment dealer means so much more than just selling equipment. There is often more to a project than just the parts and piece that go into an installation. Many dealers often offer additional services or resources that can help in every phase of a project. Engineers sometimes need produ…

Send us a Text Message. Every industry has acronyms or uses some kind of shorthand to convey information. If you have been in any particular industry for an extended period of time, you have probably picked up on many of them. Many of us use them on a daily basis and often forget that new industry members or those outside the industry don't underst…

Send us a Text Message. For the last 40 years, control panels have been an integral part of the solutions offered by Orenco Systems. Over the years, our Controls division has branched out to meet the needs of, not just the wastewater industry, but the water industry as a whole. We provide control solutions for projects of all sizes. In this episode…

Send us a Text Message. Change happens all around us. Some changes are easy. Other changes are much more involved. And then, there are changes that are so profound that they change the way we think about something in a radically new fashion. It's a paradigm shift; you see a part of your world in a whole new way. Believe it or not, there have been s…

Send us a Text Message. There's always something happening in the world of wastewater and some of those things are news-worthy. Every so often, Angela and I will look at what's happening in our industry and bring you relevant articles that are worth noting. In this episode, we will cover several interesting stories that received recent attention. Y…

Send us a Text Message. Flows in wastewater systems will vary from project to project. Then there are those projects that have high flows on one or two days during the week or even several months out of the year, and then receive almost no flow during the other days or months. These intermittent flow systems can pose a problem for designers and req…

Send us a Text Message. In almost every industry, you could compile a list of things that seem to be "common knowledge" that are either half-truths, or just plain false. The wastewater industry is no different. If you have a company trying to sell you a product or a professional giving you their opinion, don't just take their word for it. Do your r…

Send us a Text Message. High-strength waste is always a concern. However, it can be especially problematic if you live or work in an area that is sensitive to higher concentrations of nutrients. High concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorous, and even a high BOD value can present a problem for fragile environments. Keven Kelley, one of our senior eng…

Send us a Text Message. In an industry that is governed by so many rules and regulations, it is important to keep records. Installers, service providers, and even home or business owners should be keeping records to document everything. In this episode, we talk about what records are important to keep and why you should be keeping them. You never k…

Send us a Text Message. As our industry has evolved, there were several voices that championed ideas. These influential voices inspired change, challenged conventional thinking, and invented revolutionary technologies that would set the course for future generations. These individuals all share a passion for what they do. Many of these industry pio…

Send us a Text Message. While it isn't a big list, there are some basic things that every homeowner who has a septic system should know. In this episode, we talk about what important information you should have about your system and why it's important. If you have comments or questions about our podcast, you can reach us through this link. To discu…

Send us a Text Message. As our industry has evolved, there were several voices that championed ideas. These influential voices inspired change, challenged conventional thinking, and invented revolutionary technologies that would set the course for future generations. These individuals all share a passion for what they do. Many of these industry pio…

Send us a Text Message. We work in an exciting but often misunderstood industry. Just like most of an iceberg is hidden below the surface, most people only see the small, public part of our industry that is visible when there is a septic problem. Most commonly, they see the dedicated people that maintain and install systems. But, like an iceberg, t…

Send us a Text Message. Lots of things come with do's and don'ts: appliances, computers, cars ... even clothes. These do's and don'ts help us get the most out of the things we use every day. Your wastewater system is no different. By following the manufacturer's recommendations, and some common-sense guidelines, you can be confident that your waste…

Send us a Text Message. Lots of things come with do's and don'ts: appliances, computers, cars ... even clothes. These do's and don'ts help us get the most out of the things we use every day. Your wastewater system is no different. By following the manufacturer's recommendations, and some common-sense guidelines, you can be confident that your waste…

Send us a Text Message. Lots of things come with do's and don'ts: appliances, computers, cars ... even clothes. These do's and don'ts help us get the most out of the things we use every day. Your wastewater system is no different. By following the manufacturer's recommendations, and some common-sense guidelines, you can be confident that your waste…

Send us a Text Message. Lots of things come with do's and don'ts: appliances, computers, cars ... even clothes. These do's and don'ts help us get the most out of the things we use every day. Your wastewater system is no different. By following the manufacturer's recommendations, and some common-sense guidelines, you can be confident that your waste…

Send us a Text Message. In part four, we finish out our series with a discussion on drainfields. Follow along as we talk with Jeff Ball about the different types of drainfields that are used in the industry. We'll discuss some tips for maintaining your drainfield to keep it in good working condition and talk about some reasons why a drainfield coul…

Send us a Text Message. How much do you know about what happens in your septic tank? There is a lot that goes on in your septic system between your house and the drainfield. Jeff Ball, one of the owners of the company, joins us to talk about how a septic tanks works, the processes that take place in a septic tank, and why the tank is so important t…

Send us a Text Message. Garbage disposals are a convenience in many homes, but their use is sometimes misunderstood by many well-meaning homeowners. In this second episode of our series, "How Does it Work?", we talk with Jeff Ball about the two schools of thought on the use of garbage disposals. We discuss what is and is not acceptable use of this …

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to the first episode in our new series, "How Does It Work" where we discuss the basics of septic systems. In this episode, we talk with Jeff Ball, one of the company owners, about what is safe to flush down the toilet, and what things may cause damage or harm to your wastewater system. You can find additional informa…

Send us a Text Message. Water is a scarce and valuable resource. Every year, our usable supply of it gets smaller and smaller as we allow it to be contaminated with chemicals and toxic materials. The good news is that we can do something about it by reusing what is commonly called "wastewater". The water that we dispose of in our sewage treatment a…

Send us a Text Message. It's hard to believe that something so seemingly trivial and inexpensive could potentially save you thousands of dollars by preventing premature failure of your expensive septic system components. That's the potential of making sure your system is protected by an effluent filter. This basic, yet necessary part of your system…

Send us a Text Message. Designing wastewater systems no matter where the wastewater comes from is all the same, right? Unfortunately, the answer is "No". The waste coming from single-family homes (or even a collection of homes) tends to be the same from system to system. When designing for commercial systems though, the waste strength can vary wild…

Send us a Text Message. Water is a vital resource. So important, in fact, that we wanted to circle back around to thoughts from a previous episode and highlight some of the realities we face with such a limited and valuable resource. In this episode, we brought back our clean water expert, Geoff Salthouse, to talk about the quantity, quality, and a…

Send us a Text Message. Wastewater infrastructure is an essential part of every community. It involves environmental and economic studies, designing and engineering, installation, maintenance, and sometimes, remediation. All of this costs money. So, where does that money come from? Our guests, Mike Saunders and Bill Snyder, share their knowledge an…

Send us a Text Message. Across the United States, nutrient discharges from wastewater systems are being regulated at an increasing rate. Decentralized wastewater treatment systems can provide better, more reliable solutions for reducing nutrients through biological processes. In this episode, we'll talk with Bill Hensley, one of our Senior Engineer…

Send us a Text Message. Considering a grinder system? Not quite sure how they compare to liquid-only sewer technologies? Join us as we talk with Bill Snyder who lays out the facts about what a grinder system is, what their advantages are, and what their disadvantages are; especially when compared to a liquid-only sewer. If you have comments or ques…

Send us a Text Message. Building homes in scenic and pristine environments can present a problem when it comes to wastewater management and treatment. In this episode, we talk with Brian Cohen, our International Region Account Manager, about the project, Jack's Point, found in the beautiful New Zealand countryside. We discuss the decisions the deve…

Send us a Text Message. Septic tanks, in one form or another, are a part of every wastewater system. Thousands of them are installed each year across the country. Some are made of concrete, some out of fiberglass or a poly material, but they are all the same, right? Once they are installed and buried, does it really matter if they leak? Join us as …

Send us a Text Message. Every septic system, whether it is a septic tank and a gravity drainfield, or an advanced treatment system like AdvanTex®, share some common but very important parts. Join us as we talk with one of our Regional Managers, Cory Lyon, about some common parts that should be in every septic system and why they are so important. I…

Send us a Text Message. Earth Day is a day to take stock of our planet and renew our efforts to protect our natural resources. One of the most precious, but often neglected, is our water. While we may think of it as an abundant resource, the fact is that there is precious little of it that we can use. Join us as we talk with Mike Saunders about how…

Send us a Text Message. While colleges are usually pretty good at teaching you how to think like an engineer, your course of study probably didn't teach you everything you would need to know. Join us as talk with three of our newest engineers about what they did learn and, more importantly, what they wish they would have learned in school. If you a…

Send us a Text Message. Every septic system, whether it's simply a septic tank and a drainfield, or an advanced treatment system, probably makes use of some kind of alarm or control panel. Our guest, Steve Sinks, is here to talk to us about different types of control panels and how to determine what panel your system may need. We'll touch on everyt…

Send us a Text Message. Is it a panel? Is it a website? Is it a data collection and monitoring tool? It's all of these and more! In this episode, Angela and Shawn talk with our resident VeriComm expert, Aaron Yates. Join us as we discuss the parts that make up a Vericomm system, how it works, and how you can use it to maximize system design, operat…

Send us a Text Message. Depending on where you live and work, nitrogen in the waste stream can be a real environmental concern. Garry Lee Espinosa, one of our senior engineers, talks with us about why jurisdictions sometimes focus on nitrogen. He breaks down the nitrogen cycle and explains why packed bed filters can be a cost-effective solution to …

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, Orenco's Government Affairs Director, Nick Noble, joins us to talk about the importance of good regulations and effective enforcement. States and local jurisdictions rely on good regulations to help protect our water and the environment from poorly performing wastewater systems. Nick helps us understand why …

Send us a Text Message. Gravity Sewers have been in use for so long and are such a widely accepted method for transporting wastewater that many other technologies aren't as well known or have become marginalized. One of these lesser known methods that is gaining more attention is Liquid Only Sewer. This proven technology has long been hounded by ou…

Send us a Text Message. For many small communities and developments, liquid only sewer provides a lot of benefits over other technologies. Mike Saunders, our resident expert, takes some time to talk to us about the many advantages that can be leveraged by designing and implementing this technology into your project. If you have comments or question…

Send us a Text Message. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we are mindful of what we are flushing down the toilet or washing down the drain. It's not just the right thing to do for the environment, but it's also the right thing to do for those in our communities. Join us as we talk with Geoff Salthouse, our International team manager, about…

Send us a Text Message. Inflow and Infiltration, commonly known as I&I, are two little words that can represent huge problems for both municipal sewer and septic systems alike. In this episode, we talk with Patrick Foley, the Systems Engineering Manager at Orenco Water. We discuss the causes of I&I, how to test for it, what kinds of impacts it can …

Send us a Text Message. If you design, install, maintain, or live with a septic system, this episode is for you! Cory Lyon, our East Region Sales Manager, joins us to talk about this critical topic. Good safety habits are important to cultivate and should be a part of everything we do in the onsite industry. Join us as we discuss why ignoring safet…

Send us a Text Message. Never had a septic system before? Don't know where to start? In this episode, Steve Sinks, our in-house expert, walks us through the process and tells us what a homeowner will need to know. We cover everything from the first steps to installation to maintenance and everything in between. If you have questions, this is where …

Send us a Text Message. What do you pay for your water and sewer every month? Are you getting hit with rate increases? Do you know if your utility is really charging you enough to cover their costs? Mike Sauders is back to help us understand why there is no magic number when it comes to sewer rates and what the cost of a sewer system should really …